Like this:

New customer and a new custom order! Wahoo! It is for a newborn photo shoot, but this would make a great shower gift! I need to make some matching booties with little claws. Hmm. Something to do tomorrow before work.

I modified the Free Diaper Cover Pattern I offered a while back and reposted earlier today, to create the bottom of this set. I traded the single and double crochet textured area for half double crochets. Numbers work out the same, but create a smoother texture on the body of the cover.

And for the record, I used Red Heart Super Saver and an H hook for the hat and an I hook for the bottom.

I’ve been working on this ever since I got a request to do a special set for a photo shoot. I’ll eventually have the skirt available as well, but all I have written up is the diaper cover. It’s the part that’s under the skirt in the picture linked above.

I really like this because of the texture that’s created by the use of sc and dc. Another reason to like this, is that I’ve worked out the math, so you only have 2 basic rows to repeat and there are no increases or decreases. The edging is the trickiest part. I found this graduated stitch technique in the book Crochet That Fits, by Mary Jane Hall. You can find her on Ravelry.com or read her blog: positivelycrochet.blogspot.com

This diaper cover is made all in one piece and graduates in size to fit around the baby’s bottom and…

Despite the fact that I hold my hook in a wonky way, I decided to try my hand a creating a few hook covers. I mention my wonky hook holding ways, only because I’m not sure it will give me any true ease or comfort, but it was a nice diversion from the every day hooking tasks of a crocheter.

I purchased an off brand rubber band loom from Wal-Mart for 9.99, only to find a comparable knock off at Joann for only $5. I hate when that happens, but given the crazy cold temps here, I decided to keep it and suffer the monetary loss. :(

The good news is that Joann had an entire display of elastic bands on sale for $1. The loom came with a bag of assorted colors, but given my addictive issues with craft supplies, assorted, random colors simply, were just not enough! I bought a few bags and set to playing. I really enjoy the look and feel of the shimmer bands.

I watched a few videos then experimented with the number of pegs used and found I could make slim versions for tinier hooks for thread and lace work and thicker versions for the larger sized hooks like K – N.

Again, it was a nice diversion. Have any of you used grips or alternative hooks for pain relief or ease?

My new boss was kind enough to include me in her shopping efforts for this Christmas season. I immediately fell in love with her choice of two skeins of I Love This Yarn Ombre in Nightshade. It is several shades of teal with a bit of purple mixed in.

The pattern is delightfully simple and easy to memorize. I condensed my version to only seven rounds, in hopes of getting an extra headband or earwarmer out of one skein. It worked up as quickly as it is simple! I was able to create it in the time it took my daughter to rewatch the movie Shrek.

Like this:

Who doesn’t love a custom order the week before Christmas?! I was ecstatic when I saw the notification from Etsy. I whipped this up over the past few days and plan on getting it in the mail on Monday. Hope it is well received.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Hope you enjoy making these great Christmas Tree Ornaments! (They are also a great way to use up some scrap yarn.)

And here’s the pattern:

Ice Skate Ornament

Worsted Weight Yarn

Size F or G hook

Think tighter stitches, since this will be stuffed, we don’t want the batting to be too visible through the stitches.

The shoe part of this pattern is worked in rounds. The upper boot part is worked in rows.

Chain 7

Round 1: Sc in 2nd st from hk, sc in next 4 sts; 5 sc in next stitch, turning as you work the stitches; sc in next 4 sts, 4 sc in the next stitch. These 4 stitches combined with the first sc of the round make 5 stitches, matcing the other end of the bottom of the skate. (18 sts)

Round 2 & 3: Do not join here and through out. sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)

This forms the base of the boot of the skate.

In round four, we will begin working back and forth in rows to complete the boot part of the skate.

Row 7: sc in next 4 stitches. Work a looped Sc in the next stitch, creating a ‘hanger’ for your ornament. If unfamiliar with this technique, the alternative is to simply do a sc in the next stitch, chain 15 to create the hanger, then sc in the next stitch and in the remaining stitches to the end of the row (10 stitches with 15 chain loop for hanging.) Or you can ignore that part and tie a hanger on later or use a store bought ornament hook.

Fasten off, leaving a 12″ tail for sewing.

Your piece should now resemble an open boot. See this diagram for help.

With your tail, stitch down the front of the skate and across the top of the toe portion of the skate. You should still have a long tail and an opening at the top of the skate.

With a small amount of batting, stuff your skate to give it dimension and shape. Weave the ends of tail through the skate and stitch the top closed.

Using yarn, embroidery floss or string in a contrasting color to lace your skates. Tie a nice bow at the top.

Using a large paperclip, slide the open edge of the paperclip through the original chain 7 on the bottom of your skate. The ornament will give some, so rotate the paperclip around so that the skate won’t slip off.

FILET CROCHET

Filet in French simply means ‘net or a mesh”. So filet crochet is Crochet patterns made in a net or a grid. It uses just 3 basic stitches like the chain stitch, the double crochet and the single crochet.

Used in as many permutations and combinations as possible, this is reminiscent of cross stitch in that, you can use a graph to create your own designs and patterns.

Here are a few examples of Filet Crochet……..

Adding Colours to Filet Crochet adds a whole new dimension to your work.

Here are the symbols of the stitches used in Filet Crochet.

How to Filet Crochet

Pls note that in this video the demonstrator uses the term treble for double crochet….In UK ……dc is termed as treble….but the stitch used is dc.

This is how a filet crochet grid will look like…when you fill in the grid with dc’s….it is called…